Improvement in harvesters



inittll 5mm aient' diiyiiw.

1. LANCASTER, or BALTIMORE, MARYLANT).

Letters Patent No. `93,627, lla/tell A'ugnst'li), 1869.

IMPROYEMENT IN' HARVESTERS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

l as I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent.

My invention relates to harvesting-machines of that class in whichmotion is impartedto theV cutter- -barby means of regularl projectionsupon the drawingwheel, which actuate 'a lever connected with thecutting-bar, .and my improvement, to certain modifications inA thedetails of the same, hereinafter'fully set forth.

In the accompanying plate of drawings, which form a part of they presentspecification, i

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the inner, or grain-side. K

Figure 2 is a view of the end of the reciprocating lever, with itsattachments.

In using hai-vestiiig-machines, of the class hereinbefore mentioned,much diflicul'ty has been experienced with the draught-pole, when thesame is attached in the ordinary manner. There is a constant tendency onthe part of the said draught-pole to force downward the cutter-bar andshoe, thus causing, by the friction of the shoe upon the ground, aserious waste of power, and other annoying inconveniences.

It is believed that my invention entirelyl remedies this diiiculty. I

In-the figure, A represents the drawing-wheel.

B is the draught-pole, which is so connected with the frame as to allowit play reciprocally in the direction of its length. This is eiieeted'by means of the slottedbearing b, to which the pole is secured, andwhich plays easily backwardand forward` upon the pin d.

C is a chain fastened to eye-bolt, or rivet, at the point upon thedraught poles, and secured to the frame hy means of a stud-bolt at thepoint c.

E is a clevis, secured to the frame at'its lower ex'- tremity, andclasping the tongue B.

The driver-s seat D is connected to the rear end of the tongue, by meansofthe elbow-bar, F, to which it is iirmly bolted, thus balancing thesaid tongue, and throwing the weight of the driver upon the 'centre ofthe drawing-wheel. v

Gis a bar, rigidly fastened to the frame Hat its lower end, and theupper end of which lis convenient to the .hand of the driver.

purpose of turning theframe H- upon its axis, partially around thecentre of the drawing-wheel, there- Thisbar isused for the by raising orlowering the cutter-bar with celerity and ease, and enablingA the wholeframe to be lifted until itcomes in contact with the under side of thetongue, a mode of operation possessing marked advantages over theordinary method.

K is an angle-bar or lever, pivoted to the arm by a slide-bolt.

At one end-of the said angle-bar is cut a notch, to fit over aprojection in the small clevis L, by which, fi. e., the clevis, it isheld to the side of the tongue. At the other end is the lateralprojection M, to receive the foot of the driver.

When the frame vH is raised sutliciently, the notchfalls over theprojection in the small clevis, and secures the said frame in position,thus rendering ity portable, for the vpurpose of transportation, or theclearing of obstructions.

When it is desirable to'pu't the machine in working.

order again, it is onlynecessary for the operatorAk to press with hisfoot upon the lateral projection M, thus' disconnecting the angle-bar Kfrom the tongue, and causing the, cutter-bar to resume its normalposition.

It Ais evident that the notches may be multiplied upon the angle-bar, insuch a manner as to secure the cutter-bar in any desirable position.

It is also evident that the tongue B, being fastened by means of thechain G to the frame,holds the machine up to its work laterally, while,at the same time, the cutter-bar is allowed to vibrate freely up anddown, in such a manner as to adapt itself to the irregularities' oftheground over which it passes, and prevent too much friction in thepassage of the cutter-bar and shoe over the surface of the ground.

At N is seen that part of the frame which supports the fulcrum-plate Oofthe lever I.

The said plate is pivoted to the frame by the studbolt ln., and isactuated by the lever It, which causes it to reciprocate upon the pivotO, in such a manner as to throw the friction-rollers S in and out ofgearl .jections on the drawing-wheel when the machine is in activeoperation, anda greatlength of lever, in order to make the stroke of theknives suiiicient, it becomes important to provide against the loss ofmotion between the rollers and the arms, arising from the wear and tearof their parts. I, therefore, make compensation for wear and tear,'asfollows:

In iig. 2 the various parts of the niechanisnf are 4 portrayed.

rEhe frictiomrollers S are support-ed and revolve upon the studs u.

The said studs are separated by the partition W, and fit intoright-angle slots, prepared for their reception. Several sheet-ironwashers may be placed between the said studs u and the partition W.

Through the partition W, the studs u, andthe washers, is passed thescrew-bolt as, by which, in conjunction with tlie nut 1, the said studs,washers, and partition are irmly secured. Should one or more of thewashers become worn, they may be removed, and the parts secured firmlytogether, as before.

Havinrg thus described my invention, in such a inanner as to enableothers skilled in the art to make and use the same, -I will, state myclaim in the following clauses, to wit:

- fitnessesz FRANCIS W. PLUMMEP., F. P. LANCASTER.

